The Sig Kilo 2200bdx is a darn fine rangefinder. Ranges quickly and easily out to your range and beyond. For $300 it's a no brainer. I've had one for a few years and have had no problems whatsoever.
To know this, I'd have to shoot a lot more heads than I have. Most answers will be "what I just spend $150 on."
So, shoot what you like and get them to fly.
The gunbearer works off the hip belt and shoulder strap so it should be fine. I only have experience on a Kifaru pack with gunbearers so I'm not the guy to comment. But the ones I have seen looked okay.
I like the double holder Treelimb. Works with any broadhead, reasonably priced, foolproof and the arrows stay in the quiver no matter how much oakbrush I bust through.
The Kifaru gun bearer works very well for carrying rifles.
I just picked up a bowhitch which looks like a darn good way to haul a bow around with your backpack. No field time, but it's pretty slick.
I have also observed herds get bumped and then, about an hour later, circle back to bed again in the same spot. If you bump a bedded bunch, move 100 yds or so off your trail and slow way down...an hour later you may be very happy with the result. It doesn't work all the time but it does enough...
I wear a 9.5 4E shoe. The 10w Zamberlans fit perfectly, are as comfortable and fast to break in as a pair of moccasins. Great boot so far, love mine. I'm sure there are other excellent boots out there, as these replaced a 12 yr old set of Han Wags, but these are first rate in every way.
It is hard to beat a high end 8x32 binocular for all around use. They are light, sufficiently bright and have the definition to work at much longer ranges than you think. If I was to get only one, that would be it. But fortunately, I have both 8x32 and 10x42, and use both.
The first two pronghorns I shot with the 103 ELDX had wound channels that looked like I was shooting partitions, like coring an apple from one side to the other. The last two, well, same problem as the thread originator. Maybe I had a bad lot but I need more consistent performance than the...
See, the Bowtech picked you.....it sounds odd, as I'm sure all were excellent bows at Riverside Archery, but one will be more right for you than any other.
On releases, the Spot Hoggs are quite good. My primary release is a Spot Hogg Keeton, with a Tough Guy and a Carter Like Mike also in my bag. The better releases are worth the money.
If your concern is meat damage, the partition from Nosler is the best I've found at minimizing damage.
As to seeing a bear, that's unlikely. But I was stalked by a mtn lion antelope hunting n of Rawlins and saw another mtn lion in a prairie dog town south of Wheatland, so you may see a cat.
I am 5'6" and have used exclusively Kifaru since 1998. You just need to get it dialed in. My last two Kifaru packs, a Mtn Warrior on a tactical frame and a minikeg, fit perfectly. Call Aron if you haven't done so already.